Review

Mass spectrometry-based technologies for high-throughput metabolomics

University of Victoria – Genome BC Proteomics Centre, Victoria, BC, Canada

NRC Plant Biotechnology Institute, National Research Council of Canada, Saskatoon, SK, Canada

Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, St Paul’s Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

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Email the corresponding author at christoph@proteincentre.com

Christoph H Borchers

† Author for correspondence

University of Victoria – Genome BC Proteomics Centre, Victoria, BC, Canada

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Published Online:7 Dec 2009https://doi.org/10.4155/bio.09.158

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Abstract

The metabolome is composed of a vast number of small-molecule metabolites that exhibit a diversity of physical and chemical properties and exist over a wide dynamic range in biological samples. Multiple analytical techniques, used in a complementary manner, are required to achieve high coverage of the metabolome. MS is playing a central role in metabolomics research. Herein, we present a brief overview of the MS-based technologies employed for high-throughput metabolomics. These technologies range from chromatography–MS techniques, such as GC–MS and LC–MS, to chromatography-free techniques, such as direct infusion, matrix-assisted and matrix-free laser desorption/ionization, imaging and some new ambient ionization approaches. Chemoinformatics and bioinformatics tools are widely available to facilitate successful metabolomics studies by turning the complex metabolomics data into biological information through streamlined data processing, analysis and interpretation.

Papers of special note have been highlighted as: ▪ of interest ▪▪ of considerable interest

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Published online 7 December 2009

Published in print December 2009

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Dr Carol Parker for her enthusiastic assistance with manuscript editing.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors would like to acknowledge Genome Canada and Genome British Columbia for platform funding and support and Western Economic Diversification Canada for the investment of a high-throughput metabolomics platform at University of Victoria-Genome BC Proteomics Centre. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

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